Dave's Saturday Recap

[/caption]   I thought Afternoon Moon could help in the coolness area so I headed over to check out their Camping Stage set. The fellas from Chicago delivered in front of their “Mooners” despite the heat. Jordan and his brother Joe promised their fans this was one not to miss and I have to say they threw down. I spent a few songs cooling off under the canopy of the woods before going to check out Family Groove Company, the coolest band since Miles Davis peed his pants over on the Moonshine Stage. [caption id="attachment_8224" align="alignleft" width="584" caption="Janis Wallin and Jordan Wilkow of FGC @ Moonshine Stage"][/caption] Jordan Wilkow of Family Groove Company told the crowd basking in the sun in front of Moonshine Stage to stay hydrated and held up a beer. Janis “Ice” Wallin and Adam Lewis in unisoned choreography spun their guitars. The family got slightly larger as the band added a horn section for certain songs in the set  Set highlights included originals in “White Picket Fence” and “A Misdemeanor’s Worth” and the band covering Wilco’s “I’m the Man Who Love’s You” and Tower of Power’s “Squib Cakes.” [caption id="attachment_8226" align="alignleft" width="584" caption="I'm pointing at Janis Wallin...she doesn't know so its all good."][/caption] That song must have got my girlfriend Liz and I hungry so after scarfing down some tasty Minglewood Fired Pizza we doused the red pepper flake flames with a few 312 brews and headed to check out ALO. This was my first time checking these guys out and I have to say it was nice to lay back on the lawn and groove to them. Since the “crowd was in the right mind” as ALO lead guitarist explained they played a special song about “Monkeys” dedicated to Phil Lesh. Transitioning into a long fast funky chunky monkey jam the band played a variety of lively classic tunes. The band closed with “Maria” and reminded us that we had a lot of good music coming up. [caption id="attachment_8228" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="ALO @ Moonshine Stage"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_8227" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Mmm Minglewood Fired Pizza @ Summer Camp."][/caption] Gigantic Underground Conspiracy are a combination of musicians from Disco Biscuits and Umphrey’s McGee. I spotted Camp Counselor Maria Iriart taking in one of her three on stage sets as they played Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall.”  This was foreshadowing of what was to come later in the Red Barn set for Brain Damaged Eggmen.   [caption id="attachment_8233" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Gigantic Underground Conspiracy"][/caption] Over at the Soulshine Tent a private little chat with Chuck Garvey from moe. was taking place with Rock the Earth. He brought with him drummer Vinny Amico who talked about a variety of socially conscientious issues they worked on with Dave Matthews.  They also talked bout how moe. was actively involved with humanitarian efforts with the Red Cross as well as donating to environmental charities through working with the Rain Forest Network. Chuck also answered a few questions on song writing and he said at times it could take years to craft one before it was ready to unearth. He explained while it was “fun to play Led Zeppelin it was also nice to write” even though he’s extremely critical of his songs. Chuck and Vinny played a song written on an airplane with an alternate acoustic version of “Summer Women.”  Brendan Bayliss of Umphrey’s McGee came up to answer a few questions as well.  The tri-panel each told of their favorite places when not on the road.  For most it was home.  Chuck said Florida, Vinny the Adirondack Mountains, and Brendan his hometown of Chicago as he could have a zen moment having the city at his back looking out into the nothingness that was Lake Michigan.  The best part of it all was that they closed it out with “Bell-Bottom Blues” by Eric Clapton with Chuck on lead vocals and Brendan singing background vocals. Don’t judge a band by its name is something we all remember when it comes to moe. and Umphrey’s McGee.   [caption id="attachment_8230" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Chuck and Vinny from moe. bring Brendan Bayliss from Umphrey's McGee on stage to talk and play a little."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_8231" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Old Shoe plays the Camping stage"][/caption]                 Next we headed to the Camping Stage and checked out our good friends Old Shoe play their inaugural Summer Camp. “Welcome Home” opened the set and lead into “Let Yourself In” as the sun fell behind the horizon.  Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” was sandwiched in between “Joe’s Song” and “Days Rain Night.” Playing mostly original work off the bands last album Let Yourself In and a forthcoming unnamed release the sunset backdrop of the newly renovated stage was just what we needed to properly kick off the evening. We hung around for Midwest Hype who went on right after Old Shoe, and though we’ve seen our friends from Laporte/Muncie area plenty around Chicago were hit with a wonderful surprise when the fellas paid tribute to Adam Yauch aka MCA the recently departed Beastie Boy and musical pioneer.   [caption id="attachment_8232" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Sunshine stage basks in the moonlight that is Summer Camp and Umphrey's McGee."][/caption] Laying down on the grass for some Umphrey’s McGee covering Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” around 10:30pm was the perfect way to celebrate a job well done by the Shoe gang. The light show was spectacular but Liz and I had Red Barn late night passes to see Brain Damaged Eggmen. So we split off from the group and decided to meet up later at Hot Buttered Rum playing at the Campfire Stage.   Brain Damaged Eggmen in the Red Barn was epic. It wasn’t too crowded though it got a bit toasty towards the end of it. Giant beach balls were fisted skyward as glow sticks and elaborate light displays enhanced the surreal atmosphere.  I love both Pink Floyd and the Beatles and Brendan Bayliss thanked everyone for letting them entertain this side project.   [caption id="attachment_8234" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Brain Damaged Eggmen from the Red Barn late night."][/caption] Setlist: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Another Brick in the Wall, Baby, Your a Rich Man >Obscured by Clowns>Tomorrow Never Knows, Have A Cigar> Breathe> Comfortably Numb>I Am the Walrus>Dark Side of the Moon.   We caught up with the Shoe Family for Hot Buttered Rum and were able to take in everything from “Like the French” to covers of the Grateful Dead’s “Round and Round” and Beatles “I’ve Just Seen a Face.” Sitting by the Campfire around 4am I decided for the sake of not having too bloody of a Sunday it was probably best to hit the hay. [caption id="attachment_8236" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Hot Buttered Rum on the Campfire Stage"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_8235" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Brain Damaged Eggmen gets the hands in the sky at the red barn."][/caption]]]>